Honda Car Forum

I bought a new 2003 Honda CRV, and now it's time for an oil change.
(8,000kms are on the odometer)
Is synthetic oil a good idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages of
synthetic oil, and is it worth the extra expense?
If I do install synthetic oil, do I have to flush the engine first?
What's a good brand name of 5-20w synthetic oil to use?

"Nino Nospam" <Nino.Nospam@ihaw.com> wrote in message
news:kKWhb.70577$6C4.53469@pd7tw1no...
> I bought a new 2003 Honda CRV, and now it's time for an oil change.
> (8,000kms are on the odometer)
> Is synthetic oil a good idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages
of
> synthetic oil

Your motor will last LONGER without any need for overhaul (given intensity
of use is moderate). Oil change intervals are THE SAME. You may get a way
with a few miles more, say 100-200 more before oil change, but it is a myth
that synthetic oil extends your intervals in 2 times.

>, and is it worth the extra expense?

It is worth extra expense if you are going to keep the car for 5-0 years at
least with planned mileage over 150-170,000 mi and if you use "oil change"
shops.
Otherwise put cheaper mineral, change it more often than your service manual
says (say, use only Severe Conditions), change it yourself, and save on oil
and labor.

> If I do install synthetic oil, do I have to flush the engine first?

I dont think so. Today most of the oils are compatible, at least within the
same brand or manufacturer.

> What's a good brand name of 5-20w synthetic oil to use?

Mobil oil and filters are the best and pricey. You may use Valvoline (my
preferred), Castrol. Personally, I'll try to avoid Pennzoil, Quaker and
their oil filters together with Fram evil of the industry.
>

"dimmi" <someone@new.rr.com> wrote in message
news:X8Xhb.21906$pg7.17830@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>You may get a way
> with a few miles more, say 100-200 more before oil change, but it is a
myth
> that synthetic oil extends your intervals in 2 times.

It is not a myth, but Honda may deny your warranty claims if you double your
oil change intervals and something non-oil related goes wrong with the car,
so it is not adviseable while you're still under warranty. Also, time is a
factor, not just mileage. FYI, here's a Camaro that did 18K miles on Mobil
1.

http://oilstudy.spacebears.com/

If a big ole American engine could do it, I'm sure a well-engineered Honda
engine can do it as well.

Cheers,

Pete

"Nino Nospam" <Nino.Nospam@ihaw.com> wrote in message
news:kKWhb.70577$6C4.53469@pd7tw1no...
> I bought a new 2003 Honda CRV, and now it's time for an oil change.
> (8,000kms are on the odometer)
> Is synthetic oil a good idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages
of
> synthetic oil, and is it worth the extra expense?

Everything you ever wanted to know about oil you can find right here:
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi


> If I do install synthetic oil, do I have to flush the engine first?

No.

Cheers,

Pete

just another synthetic oil BS
Pretty funky that the warranty may be affected by an extra oil change. No
logic in it, though. Time IS a factor on a "whichever comes first" basis. In
my experience, mileage was a signal for an oil changes, not the elapsed
time.

"Pete" <escape2music@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bm9hog$jrt$1@news.onet.pl...
>
> "dimmi" <someone@new.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:X8Xhb.21906$pg7.17830@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> >You may get a way
> > with a few miles more, say 100-200 more before oil change, but it is a
> myth
> > that synthetic oil extends your intervals in 2 times.
>
> It is not a myth, but Honda may deny your warranty claims if you double
your
> oil change intervals and something non-oil related goes wrong with the
car,
> so it is not adviseable while you're still under warranty. Also, time is
a
> factor, not just mileage. FYI, here's a Camaro that did 18K miles on
Mobil
> 1.
>
> http://oilstudy.spacebears.com/
>
> If a big ole American engine could do it, I'm sure a well-engineered Honda
> engine can do it as well.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Pete
>
>

"dimmi" <someone@new.rr.com> wrote in message
news:2lYhb.22111$%C5.4987@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> just another synthetic oil BS

Which part is BS according to you?


> Pretty funky that the warranty may be affected by an extra oil change.

Huh? I did not say to do extra oil changes but to double the oil change
interval, which means change the interval from let's say every 5K miles to
every 10K miles.


> No
> logic in it, though.

I'm afraid you have difficulty reading.


>Time IS a factor on a "whichever comes first" basis. In
> my experience, mileage was a signal for an oil changes, not the elapsed
> time.

IMO, while it may be OK to go from 5K mile changes to 10K mile changes with
synthetic, it is not OK to go from changing oil once a year to once every
two years. If it takes you 2 year to hit 10K miles, it means you don't
drive much or do mostly short trips in which case you should not wait so
long to change your oil.

Cheers,

Pete



>
> "Pete" <escape2music@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:bm9hog$jrt$1@news.onet.pl...
> >
> > "dimmi" <someone@new.rr.com> wrote in message
> > news:X8Xhb.21906$pg7.17830@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> > >You may get a way
> > > with a few miles more, say 100-200 more before oil change, but it is a
> > myth
> > > that synthetic oil extends your intervals in 2 times.
> >
> > It is not a myth, but Honda may deny your warranty claims if you double
> your
> > oil change intervals and something non-oil related goes wrong with the
> car,
> > so it is not adviseable while you're still under warranty. Also, time
is
> a
> > factor, not just mileage. FYI, here's a Camaro that did 18K miles on
> Mobil
> > 1.
> >
> > http://oilstudy.spacebears.com/
> >
> > If a big ole American engine could do it, I'm sure a well-engineered
Honda
> > engine can do it as well.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Pete
> >
> >
>
>

On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 17:04:16 GMT, "Nino Nospam" <Nino.Nospam@ihaw.com>
wrote:

>I bought a new 2003 Honda CRV, and now it's time for an oil change.
>(8,000kms are on the odometer)

Isn't it a bit early... unless you've done lots of short trips?

>Is synthetic oil a good idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages of
>synthetic oil, and is it worth the extra expense?

There's no single answer here - the controversy continues:-)... and it does
depend on your driving habits whether it's worthwhile. If you do lots of
short trips you need to change the oil more often anyway, which a mineral
oil will handle fine. No point in wasting $$.

>If I do install synthetic oil, do I have to flush the engine first?
>What's a good brand name of 5-20w synthetic oil to use?

No need to flush and I wouldn't worry about the 5W/20 recommendation too
much. Choose the oil based on performance and if it's only available in
5W/30 use that. There's no doubt IMO that Mobil1 is the best freely
available off-the-shelf synthetic oil. Valvoline and Castrol synthetics
are not real synthetics anymore. See the Castrol "confession":
http://www.castrolusa.com/syntecresponse.html.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

I read the articlel you posted. It clearly states that "Syntec is indeed
fully synthetic". So why are you saying it isn't?

Bill

"George Macdonald" <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> wrote in message
news:s7sgovgsst6b7qdii15dvlpjjsf3nf6i17@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 17:04:16 GMT, "Nino Nospam" <Nino.Nospam@ihaw.com>
> wrote:
>
> >I bought a new 2003 Honda CRV, and now it's time for an oil change.
> >(8,000kms are on the odometer)
>
> Isn't it a bit early... unless you've done lots of short trips?
>
> >Is synthetic oil a good idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages
of
> >synthetic oil, and is it worth the extra expense?
>
> There's no single answer here - the controversy continues:-)... and it
does
> depend on your driving habits whether it's worthwhile. If you do lots of
> short trips you need to change the oil more often anyway, which a mineral
> oil will handle fine. No point in wasting $$.
>
> >If I do install synthetic oil, do I have to flush the engine first?
> >What's a good brand name of 5-20w synthetic oil to use?
>
> No need to flush and I wouldn't worry about the 5W/20 recommendation too
> much. Choose the oil based on performance and if it's only available in
> 5W/30 use that. There's no doubt IMO that Mobil1 is the best freely
> available off-the-shelf synthetic oil. Valvoline and Castrol synthetics
> are not real synthetics anymore. See the Castrol "confession":
> http://www.castrolusa.com/syntecresponse.html.
>
> Rgds, George Macdonald
>
> "Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who,
me??

On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 00:22:16 GMT, "WORSS" <wrector@nospam.nycap.rr.com>
wrote:

>I read the articlel you posted. It clearly states that "Syntec is indeed
>fully synthetic". So why are you saying it isn't?

So you believe them - I don't... in fact IMO they're lying. I don't know
how deep you want to get in here but I can go all the way - I know the
chemistry. Before the Grp III hydrocracked base stocks came along,
"synthetic" meant an oil which was made with a two step polymerisation
process and starting from the very simple ethylene molecule - IOW it was
synthesized. What Castrol is selling is a highly processed (hydrocracking
and/or hydro-isomerisation) mineral oil - not the same thing at all and IMO
not "synthetic". The fact that NAD of BBB says it is is irrelevant and the
fact that Castrol charges synthetic prices for it is fraudulent.

>"George Macdonald" <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> wrote in message
>news:s7sgovgsst6b7qdii15dvlpjjsf3nf6i17@4ax.com.. .
>> On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 17:04:16 GMT, "Nino Nospam" <Nino.Nospam@ihaw.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >I bought a new 2003 Honda CRV, and now it's time for an oil change.
>> >(8,000kms are on the odometer)
>>
>> Isn't it a bit early... unless you've done lots of short trips?
>>
>> >Is synthetic oil a good idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages
>of
>> >synthetic oil, and is it worth the extra expense?
>>
>> There's no single answer here - the controversy continues:-)... and it
>does
>> depend on your driving habits whether it's worthwhile. If you do lots of
>> short trips you need to change the oil more often anyway, which a mineral
>> oil will handle fine. No point in wasting $$.
>>
>> >If I do install synthetic oil, do I have to flush the engine first?
>> >What's a good brand name of 5-20w synthetic oil to use?
>>
>> No need to flush and I wouldn't worry about the 5W/20 recommendation too
>> much. Choose the oil based on performance and if it's only available in
>> 5W/30 use that. There's no doubt IMO that Mobil1 is the best freely
>> available off-the-shelf synthetic oil. Valvoline and Castrol synthetics
>> are not real synthetics anymore. See the Castrol "confession":
>> http://www.castrolusa.com/syntecresponse.html.
>>
>> Rgds, George Macdonald
>>
>> "Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who,
>me??
>

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

In article <kKWhb.70577$6C4.53469@pd7tw1no>,
"Nino Nospam" <Nino.Nospam@ihaw.com> wrote:

> I bought a new 2003 Honda CRV, and now it's time for an oil change.
> (8,000kms are on the odometer)
> Is synthetic oil a good idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages of
> synthetic oil, and is it worth the extra expense?
> If I do install synthetic oil, do I have to flush the engine first?
> What's a good brand name of 5-20w synthetic oil to use?
>
>

The biggest advantage is resistance to temperature extremes. Whether or
not that means anything depends on how and where you drive.